Kaiser Redwood City Prep

Tell me about yourself

I grew up in San Francisco in a Latino community where I saw firsthand how much doctors relied on lab results to care for my grandparents with chronic illnesses. That’s what first inspired me to pursue lab work. Since then, I’ve studied biology at SFSU, worked in research labs at UCSF and SFSU, and completed phlebotomy training. Those experiences gave me both technical skills—like PCR, ELISA, and biospecimen handling—and a deeper passion for patient-centered lab work. I’m excited to apply all that toward becoming a CLS and contributing to patient care in my own community.

Why do you want to become a CLS?

Because lab results are often the foundation of diagnosis and treatment. I want to be part of that process. My research background showed me how much I enjoy working hands-on with samples and data, but also how important accuracy and quality control are. Becoming a CLS feels like the perfect way to combine my technical interests with my goal of serving patients in a direct, meaningful way.

Why Kaiser Redwood City?

What are you hoping to get from this site

I’m really drawn to hospital-based labs because of the fast-paced environment and the direct link between testing and patient care. I know Redwood City handles a variety of cases, and I’m excited by the chance to rotate through different sections, learn from experienced CLSs, and build confidence in troubleshooting and time management in a real hospital setting.

State one Strength

One of my strengths is staying organized and calm under pressure. In research and work settings, I’ve managed multiple tasks and deadlines at once by breaking them into steps and staying focused on accuracy.

State one Weakness

Sometimes I push myself to keep working without breaks, but I’ve learned that short breaks actually improve my focus and efficiency. So I’ve built habits to manage that, like using timers.

How do you handle stress or mistakes

I stay calm and break tasks into steps. For example, during research projects at UCSF, I often had to troubleshoot experiments that didn’t work out. If I make a mistake, I take responsibility, document it, and correct it—like when I once missed a step in an ELISA and immediately reran it. That experience taught me to slow down and build checklists, which I’d also apply here in clinical practice.

Do you see yourself working here after training?

Yes, I would definitely be interested in staying at a hospital-based lab like Redwood City if there’s an opportunity. I’m really looking for a place where I can keep growing, and I’ve heard Kaiser has good career pathways for CLSs.